Casing for water heaters



April 21, 1931; 5. J. LONERGAN. ET AL 1,802,085

CASING FOR WATER HEATERS Filed Feb. 4, 1928' 12 .1. x .9 a Si 13 11 El fl I i E i 6 7 a I u I UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE SIMON J. LON ERGAN AND LEE 1. (IORSTBITE), OF LA FORTE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOBS r0 BASTIAN-MQBLEY COMPANY, OF LA PORTE,']1\TDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA CASING FOR WATER. HEATERS Application filed February 4, 1928. Serial No. 251,776.

Our invention relates to casings for water heaters, and has for an object the provision of a simple and inexpensive casing, which is light in weight, very strong and durable, and which is capable of withstanding rough handling without distortion.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this description progresses and by reference to the drawing wherein,-

Figure 1 is an elevated view, partially in section, of one, form of heater embodying our invention.

Fi 2 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line 22 of Figure 1.

The particular form of Water heater which we have chosen to illustrate our invention embodies an inner wall or casing 5 which is closed at the top and bottom to provide a water storage tank. This storage tank is surrounded by a cylindrical metal insulating jacket or casing 6 spaced therefrom to provide an insulating space 7. This insulating space may be employed as a dead air space or may be filledwith a suitable insfilatmg material suchas asbestos or the like. The casings 5 and 6 are extended downwardly to provide a combustion chamber 8 beneath the storage tank which may enclose water heating and circulating elements of any deslred form. The foregoing structure is mounted upon a base 9 which is supported by the usual legs 10. The upper part of the structure is closed by a cover 11 through which passthe usual water supply and service connections 12 and 13 and the flue structure 14:.

From a standpoint of economy in manufacture and to providea heater structure which is not excessively heavy, it is desirable that comparatively light weight materials be employed in forming some of the heater parts, and particularly the outer shell or casing 6. To this end, the casing 6 may be formed of relatively thin and light weight sheet metal material. However, unless otherwise provided for, it has been found that such a thinmetal casing is readily susceptible of distortion in case of ordinary rough handling during assembly, packing, shipping and installation with the result that considerable loss may be experienced in repairing or replacement of the injured casing.

The principal feature ofour invention is to provide a thin and light weight metal heater casing which is capable of Withstanding ordinary rough handling without injury. We provide the casing 6 at intervals around its circumference with a plurality of exteriorly projecting longitudinal ribs 15,, which preferably, but not necessarily, take the crosssectional shape shown in Fig. 2. We have found that, by arranging these ribs in spaced groups, the shell is strengthened and made capable of withstanding ordinary impacts without distortion. Such shell is capable of withstanding strains and stresses without distortion when applied from any direction. Furthermore, by pressing these ribs outwardly from the metal wall, as shown, an added rigidit effect is produced and any tendency o the shell wall to collapse is efficiently opposed.

We have shown three ribs in each group, such ribs being of at least, two distinct shapes in cross-section; however, it is to be understoodthat both the number of the ribs and their shapes may be varied'without departing from our invention. It is to be further understood that our invention is not limited to the form of heater shown in the drawing. It will be appreciated that these ribs may be readily applied to the wall of a stora e tank such, for example, as the wall 5 of t e storage tank shown in the drawing.

We claim:

A water heater storage tank comprising an elongated vertically disposed inner casing closed at the top and bottom to provide a storage tank, an outer cylindrical elongated vertically disposed metal insulating casing spaced therefrom to provide an insulating space, said inner and outer casings being extended downwardly to provide a combustion chamber beneath the storage tank, said outer casing being provided with a plurality of spaced groups of longitudinal ribs formed in the circumference of said casing and extending throughout the length thereof, some of said ribs in each group being of different shape in crosssection, said groups of ribs imparting strength to the outer casing to prevent collapsin thereof and servin inrther to slendel ize t e appearance of the eater tank.

In witness whereof, we have subscribed our names.

SIMON J. LONERGAN. LEE 1?. CORSBIE. 

